Pivotal quick disconnect fluid flow coupling

ABSTRACT

An upwardly opening, generally L-shaped movable coupling part is mounted for vertical pivoting movement at one end of an elongated horizontally extending fluid conduit under the control of a fluid cylinder, and a rotary locking ring is supported on a downwardly opening, relatively stationary coupling part and operable to releasably lock open ends of the coupling parts together in vertical alignment. Guide devices serve to constrain the movable coupling part for vertical swinging movement; such devices being effective in preventing horizontal displacement of the movable coupling part due to thermal expansions/ contractions of the mounting conduit. The coupling parts carry a safety device for preventing undesired unlocking rotations of the locking ring.

Ilnited States Patent Piegza PIVOTAL QUICK DISCONNECT FLUID FLOW COULINGInventor: Henry John Piegza, Clarence,

Welding and Steel Fabrication Co. Inc., Tonawanda, NY.

Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 Appl. No.: 195,653

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1953 Exton ..285/84 10/1964Anding ..285/ l 8 X 1/1967 Jablin ..285/18 X 1/1970 Piegza ..285/24 Get,24, 19723 Primary Examiner-Thomas F. Callaghan Att0rneyJohn B. Bean eta1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An upwardly opening, generally L-shaped movable couplingpart is mounted for vertical pivoting movement at one end of anelongated horizontally extend ing fluid conduit under the control of afluid cylinder, and a rotary locking ring is supported on a downwardlyopening, relatively stationary coupling part and operable to releasablylock open ends of the coupling parts together in vertical alignment.Guide devices serve to constrain the movable coupling part for verticalswinging movement; such devices being effective in preventing horizontaldisplacement of the movable coupling part due to thermal expansions/contractions of the mounting conduit. The coupling parts carry a safetydevice for preventing undesired unlocking rotations of the locking ring,

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 24, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet l NINVENTOR. HENRY JOHN P/EGZH Patented Oct. 24, 1972 3 Sheets-s z I k"IIIIIIIIIILIIL 54 lllllllllllln -6 HENRY JOH v P7562};

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ATTORNEYS Patented 0a. 24, 1972 3,100,261

3 maeeta at 5 0 /I/\AETI at I M12 34 i [L 5 .H 54 70 56\' I I". 46 481?s 44 5s 6 Q I 0 3 j 172 0;; 5o 0 42 I6 708 10 54 j 6?? J 7 m i t f A I Qll 63 A I g? l W14 ,5 MM] :51; NEH 80/ Hii 2; z i \l INVE R HENRY JOHNP/EGZA PIVOTAL QUKCK DISCONNECT FLUID FLOW COUPLING SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The present invention is directed towards quick disconnectcouplings for fluid flow conduits.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a pivotal quickdisconnect coupling having utility in removably coupling a dischargeflow conduit to a downwardly exhausting stationary flow outlet, such aswould be supplied with exhaust from a turbine or jet engine under test,when a minimum of space is available between the outlet and ground levelor floor.

The present coupling features a stationary coupling part fixed to theflow outlet, and a generally L-shaped movable coupling part mounted forvertical movement at one end of a horizontally elongated, pivotallysupported outlet flow conduit under the control of a hydraulicallyoperated cylinder; the stationary coupling part carrying a rotarylocking ring operable to lock the parts in coupled position. The movablecoupling part carries a pair of guide shoes, which are supported withinstationary vertically extending guide ways for the purpose of preventinghorizontal displacements of the movable coupling part, such as may beoccasioned by thermally induced expansions/contractions of its mountingconduit. The operating cylinder and guide shoes are fixed to a singlemounting plate, which is in turn fixed to ground or other stationarysurface.

Additionally, the movable coupling part carries a pneumatically operatedplunger, which is adapted to be received within an aperture formed inthe rotary locking ring in order to normally constrain rotation of thering away from its locking position. A microswitch is fixed to thestationary coupling part for the purpose of preventing operation of alocking ring operator, such as a pair of pneumatic cylinders, when theplunger is in its locking position.

When the present invention is used in a test facility whereinpluralities of engines are to be tested, more than one stationarycoupling part may be provided in order to permit one of such parts to bejoined to an engine while another engine is being tested.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention willnow be more fully described in the following detailed description takenwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational view of the coupling of the present inventionshowing the coupling parts in uncoupled condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coupling shown in H6. 1 with partsbroken away for the purpose of clarity; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective .view similar to FIG. 2, but showing thecoupling parts in coupled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIG. 1,wherein the present coupling is generally designated as and shown asinciuding a stationary coupling part 12, which is bolt or otherwiseaffixed to a stationary, downwardly exhausting flow conduit or outlet14, such as may be defined by a jet engine or turbine to be tested; anda generally L-shaped movable coupling part 16, which is bolt orotherwise affixed to one end of a horizontally elongated, dischargeconduit 18, which is in turn pivotally supported by flexible bellowspindevice 20 for vertical movement through a small arc of travel under thecontrol of a fluid cylinder 22. It will be understood that whilecoupling 10 has particular utility in installations wherein flow conduit14 is defined by the downwardly directed hot gas exhaust of a turbine orjet engine, it may be employed in any installation wherein the conduitis subject to periodic repair and/or replacement and may occasionsubstantial expansions/contractions in the exhaust system. Whenthermally induced expansions/contractions are a conside ra tiondischarge conduit 18 may be connected to a stationary exhaust stack 24via an L-shaped connecting conduit 26, which is end joined to conduit 18by flexible bellows-pin device 20 and to stack 24 by flexiblebellows-pin device 28; the pivot axes defined by devices 20 and 28 beingessentially parallel such that movements of coupling part 16, conduit 18and conduit 26 are within an essentially vertically disposed plane.Preferably, a suitable support, not shown, would be provided to supportconduit 26 for horizontal sliding movements.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that coupling part 12generallyincludes a mounting ring 30, which is disposable in axialalignment with conduit 14; a locking ring 32, which is adapted to besupported for rotation concentrically of mounting ring 30; and a lockingring actuating mechanism including a pair of fluid cylinder devices 34,34.

Mounting ring 30 is best shown in FIG. 3 as including a radiallyextending. annular flange 36, which is provided with vertically spaced,radially extending machined surfaces 38 and 40; surface 38 beingpreferably shaped to receive a compressible sealing gasket 42 ofsuitable composition. Also, locking ring 32 is best shown in FIG. 3 asbeing of generally U-shaped cross-section, wherein radially, inwardlyextending leg portions 44 and 46 are adapted to straddle annular flange36. The inwardly facing, radially extending surface of leg portion 44 ispositioned in sliding surface engagement with flange surface 40concentrically of mounting ring 30 by means of a plurality of mountingring carried guide rollers 46 and locking ring carried guide rollers 48.When locking ring 32 is thus positioned, the inwardly facing, radiallyextending surface of leg portion 42 is maintained in a spaced, facingrelationship with respect to mounting ring surface 38.

By referring to FIGS. 2 and 3,. it will be seen that looking ring legportion 42 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slotopenings 50, which define intermediate portions 52 provided on theinwardly facing surfaces thereof with suitably affixed, wedge-shaped camelements 54.

Looking ring 32 may be rotated with respect to mounting ring 30 by theabove referred to fluid cylinder devices 34, 34 from a coupling unlockedposition, indicated in FIG. 2, to a coupling locked position, indicatedin FIG. 3. Preferably, cylinder devices 34, 34 include pneumaticallyoperated cylinders, which are end connected by pivot pin shafts tomounting ring weldrnents 56 and locking ring wel-dments 58.

Coupling part 16 includes an L-shaped conduit section 60 and a radiallyextending mounting ring member 62, which is provided with a radiallyextending surface 64 machined to define a sealing surface adapted tocooperate with sealing gasket 42 carried on mounting ring 36. Mountingring member 62 is additionally formed with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slot openings 66, which define intermediateportions 68 on which are mounted wedge cam surface elements 70. Fluidcylinder 22 is connected to conduit section 60 by a pivot pin connection72.

It will be understood that, when coupling part 16 is moved upwardly uponextension of fluid cylinder 22 from the position illustrated in FIG. 2,intermediate portions 68 of mounting ring member 62 are caused to passthrough locking ring slot openings 52 in order to place mounting ringsealingsurface 64 adjacent sealing gasket 42 with the surfaces of wedgeelements 54 and 70 disposed in a facing circumferentially spacedrelationship. Thereafter, when locking ring 32 is rotated by contractionof fluid cylinders 34 into its locked position shown in FIG. 3, thesurfaces of wedge elements 54 and 70 cooperate to lock coupling parts 12and 16 together, and to force mounting ring member sealing surface 64into operative sealing engagement with sealing gasket 42 to form anannularly arranged fluid seal between the mating coupling parts. Thecoupling parts may be uncoupled by-reversing the operations justdescribed.

Coupling part 16 is constrained for vertical move ment in properalignment with coupling part 12 by a pair of guide devices 80 and 80.Guide devices 80 and 80 include a pair of guide shoes, only one of whichis shown in the drawings as 82, which are fixed to opposite sides ofconduit section 60 and a pair of vertically extending guide ways 84 and84, which are fixed relative to each other and to a stationary ground orfloor reference by mounting plate 86. Mounting plate 86, which may bebolt or otherwise connected to the ground reference, additionally servesas a point of attachment for fluid cylinder 22, as indicated by pivotpin connection 88.

Each of shoes 82 is formed with a front block portion 90, which is edgeguided for vertical sliding movement within a guide way slot 92 and arear plate portion 94, which is arranged to engage the inner or facingsurface of its associated guide way adjacent slot 92.

As will be apparent, rear plate portions cooperate with the facing innersurfaces of guide ways to constrain coupling part 16 for verticalmovement within a plane vertically bisecting the coupling parts andconduit 18, such movement being otherwise difficult to achieve if solereliance were to be placed on flexible bellows-pin device 20. Also, aswill be apparent, the front block portions cooperate with the guide wayslots to constrain coupling part 16 for movement within an essentiallyvertically disposed plane arranged to extend transversely of conduit 18.By this means, coupling part 16 is fixed against displacements in adirection lengthwise of conduit 18 and any thermally induced expansionsand/or contractions of such conduit and/or connecting conduit 26 iscompensated for by movements in flexible bellows-pin devices 20 and 28.

The present construction additionally provides a positive interlockdevice 100 for preventing unintentional unlocking rotation of lockingring 32. Interlock device includes a fluid cylinder operator 102, whichis fixed to conduit section 60 by a mountingguide bracket 104 andadapted to effect vertical reciprocation of a spring biased plunger 106(shown only in FIG. 3) within bracket bore opening 108; a receiverbracket 110, which is fixed to locking ring 32 and formed with boreopening 112; and a suitable senser, such as an electrical switch 114,which is arranged above receiver bracket 1 10 in alignment with its boreopening 112. As will be apparent from viewing FIG. 3, upon rotation oflocking ring 32 into its coupling parts locking position, receivingbracket opening 112 is automatically moved into vertical alignment withbracket opening 108. Thereafter, operation of operator 102 will effectvertical movement of plunger 106 upwardly through receiving bracketopening 112 into operating engagement with the operator of switch 114.To prevent unintentional removal of plunger 106 from bore opening 108 inthe event of failure of the fluid supply to operator 102, plunger 106 isspring biased upwardly. This requires that operator 102 must beintentionally reversed in order to lower the plunger from constrainingengagement with the locking ring.

Preferably, switch 114 is connected into the control circuit, not shown,for both of cylinders 34, 34 and cylinder 22, whereby when plunger 106is extended, both unlocking rotation of the locking ring and uncouplingmovement of coupling part 16 is prevented. Even if switch 114 shouldfail, the presence of plunger 106 within receiving bracket opening 112would be effective in preventing unintentional rotation of the lockingring.

lclaim:

1. A quick disconnect coupling comprising in combination:

a stationary coupling part mounted in flow communication with avertically downwardly exhausting flow outlet of a flow source means;

a generally L-shaped movable coupling part mounted in flow communicationwith one end of an elongated, generally horizontally extending flowreceiverfconduit means supported at a point remote from said couplingfor at least pivotal movement within an essentially vertically disposedplane bisecting said coupling parts and said flow outlet, said couplingparts including ring members mounted on the mating ends thereof, saidring members each having sealing means;

a locking ring member of generally U-shaped crosssection supported onone of said ring members for rotational movement between couplingunlocked and coupling locked positions, said locking ring member havingfirst and second leg portions straddling said one ring member in adirection axially of its associated coupling part, said first legportion having alternately spaced first cam members and axially throughslot openings arranged circumferentially thereof, said first cam membersbeing disposed in facing relation to said second leg portion, and theother of said ring members having second cam members spacedcircumferentially thereof such that said second cam members may passessentially axially inwardly of said locking ring member through saidslot openings when disposed in circumferential alignment therewith, saidsecond cam members facingin a direction away from the mating end of thecoupling part with which said other ring member is associated, saidlocking ring member when said mating ends of said coupling parts arebrought together to place said ring members in an axially alignedrelationship and said second cam members inwardly of said locking ringmember being adapted to be rotated with respect to said ring membersbetween said coupling unlocked and coupling locked positions to forcesaid first and second cam members into operative engagement whereby saidsealing means are forced into sealing engagement to form an annularlyarranged flow seal between the mating ends of said coupling parts;

operating means for rotating said locking ring member between saidpositions thereof; ground affixed guide means for constraining the ringmember of said movable coupling part for movement along an essentiallyvertical path of travel whereby to guidingly maintain said second cammembers and said slot openings in circumferential alignment when saidmating ends of said coupling parts are brought together and said lockingring is in said coupling unlocked position; and ground affixed controlmeans for vertically moving said movable coupling part to bring togethersaid mating ends of said coupling parts. 2. A coupling according toclaim 1, wherein said coupling additionally includes locking means forselectively preventing rotation of said locking ring member between saidpositions thereof.

3. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein said locking ring member issupported on the ring member of said stationary coupling part.

4. A coupling according to claim 3, wherein said locking means includesa plunger operated by a fluid cylinder, means for supporting saidcylinder on said movable coupling part to arrange said plunger forreciprocating movements along a path essentially parallel to said pathof travel, an aperture defined by said locking ring member, saidaperture being alignable with said path of plunger travel when saidlocking ring member is in said coupling locked position for receipt ofsaid plunger therewithin, said plunger when received within saidaperture constraining said locking ring member from rotation away fromsaid locking position, and responsive means carried by said stationarycoupling part, said responsive means being responsive to receipt of saidplunger within said aperture for preventing operation of said operatingmeans.

5. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said control means is afluid operated cylinder having opposite ends thereof pivotallyinterconnected to said movable coupling part and a mounting plate, saidmounting plate being ground affixed, and said guide means includes apair of guide shoes fixed to extend vertically from adjacent oppositelyfacing surfaces of said movable coupling part and a pair of guidewaysfixed to said mounting plate, said guide shoes cooperating with saidguideways to constrain said movable coupling part as aforesaid.

1. A quick disconnect coupling comprising in combination: a stationarycoupling part mounted in flow communication with a vertically downwardlyexhausting flow outlet of a flow source means; a generally L-shapedmovable coupling part mounted in flow communication with one end of anelongated, generally horizontally extending flow receiver conduit meanssupported at a point remote from said coupling for at least pivotalmovement within an essentially vertically disposed plane bisecting saidcoupling parts and said flow outlet, said coupling parts including ringmembers mounted on the mating ends thereof, said ring members eachhaving sealing means; a locking ring member of generally U-shapedcross-section supported on one of said ring members for rotationalmovement between coupling unlocked and coupling locked positions, saidlocking ring member having first and second leg portions straddling saidone ring member in a direction axially of its associated coupling part,said first leg portion having alternately spaced first cam members andaxially through slot openings arranged circumferentially thereof, saidfirst cam members being disposed in facing relation to said second legportion, and the other of said ring members having second cam membersspaced circumferentially thereof such that said second cam members maypass essentially axially inwardly of said locking ring member throughsaid slot openings when disposed in circumferential alignment therewith,said second cam members facing in a direction away from the mating endof the coupling part with which said other ring member is associated,said locking ring member when said mating ends of said coupling partsare brought together to place said ring members in an axially alignedrelationship and said second cam members inwardly of said locking ringmember being adapted to be rotated with respect to said ring membersbetween said coupling unlocked and coupling locked positions to forcesaid first and second cam members into operative engagement whereby saidsealing means are forced into sealing engagement to form an annularlyarranged flow seal between the mating ends of said coupling parts;operating means for rotating said locking ring member between saidpositions thereof; ground affixed guide means for constraining the ringmember of said movable coupling part for movement along an essentiallyvertical path of travel whereby to guidingly maintain said second cammembers and said slot openings in circumferential alignment when saidmating ends of said coupling parts are brought together and said lockingring is in said coupling unlocked position; and ground affixed controlmeans for vertically moving said movable coupling part to bring togethersaid mating ends of said coupling parts.
 2. A coupling according toclaim 1, wherein said coupling additionally includes locking means forselectively preventing rotation of said locking ring member between saidpositions thereof.
 3. A coupling according to claim 2, wherein saidlocking ring member is supported on the ring member of said stationarycoupling part.
 4. A coupling according to claim 3, wherein said lockingmeans includes a plunger operated by a fluid cylinder, means forsupporting said cYlinder on said movable coupling part to arrange saidplunger for reciprocating movements along a path essentially parallel tosaid path of travel, an aperture defined by said locking ring member,said aperture being alignable with said path of plunger travel when saidlocking ring member is in said coupling locked position for receipt ofsaid plunger therewithin, said plunger when received within saidaperture constraining said locking ring member from rotation away fromsaid locking position, and responsive means carried by said stationarycoupling part, said responsive means being responsive to receipt of saidplunger within said aperture for preventing operation of said operatingmeans.
 5. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein said control means isa fluid operated cylinder having opposite ends thereof pivotallyinterconnected to said movable coupling part and a mounting plate, saidmounting plate being ground affixed, and said guide means includes apair of guide shoes fixed to extend vertically from adjacent oppositelyfacing surfaces of said movable coupling part and a pair of guidewaysfixed to said mounting plate, said guide shoes cooperating with saidguideways to constrain said movable coupling part as aforesaid.